Communications

Pursuant to Mississippi's Public Records Act, I hereby request the following documents:

1. any requests for proposals, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones”);

2. any policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on department use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone;

3. any departmental records concerning this department’s use of drones now or plans to use drones in the future including:

a. the types of investigations or instances in which this department is using or plans to use drones, or how it plans to support, manage or oversee the usage of drones by another department or office;

b. policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on storage requirements or procedures for video or static images obtained through use of drones, including retention times;

c. the altitude at which drones can or do fly;

d. drones’ ability to carry weapons.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Shawn,Thank you for your inquiry. Attached is a Request for Disclosure of Public Records form. Would you please fill this out and fax it back to our Executive Office at 228-374-5005 so that we may process your request?

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 16, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Shawn,Thanks for your inquiry. The point of contact in our agency for public records requests is Mike Walker. You may reach Mike regarding the request you submitted on Oct. 16, 2012 at Mike.Walker@dmr.ms.gov. Mike processes public records requests for MDMR.